France takes legal action against BrixHub data search engine

French Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff has referred the search engine BrixHub to the Paris prosecutor, alleging the platform facilitates access to personal data obtained through illegal hacks. The site reportedly indexes over 11 billion records from various international and French data breaches, allowing users to search for individuals to find sensitive information such as addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers.

Authorities suggest the data on the platform likely stems from the fraudulent access, extraction, and retention of automated personal data processing systems, particularly those belonging to commercial companies. BrixHub has also been criticized for offering a service where individuals can pay a fee to have their personal information removed from the site. Le Hénanff has urged citizens not to pay for such removals, stating, “No platform is above the law.”